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Home , Battle of Bennington, Benjamin Lincoln, Jonas Galusha, New Hampshire Grants, New Hampshire Militia, Seth Warner

Primary Sources

Unit: , Col. Simonds, Capt. Michael Holcomb James Holcomb

Pension Application of James Holcomb R 5128

Holcomb was born 8 June 1764 and is thus 12 years old (!) when he first enlisted on 4 March 1777 in Sheffield, MA, for one year as a waiter in the Company commanded by his uncle Capt. Michael Holcomb. In April or May 1778, he enlisted as a fifer in Capt. Deming’s Massachusetts Militia Company.

“That he attended his uncle in every alarm until some time in August when the Company were ordered to Bennington in […] arriving at the latter place on the 15th of the same month – that on the 16th his company joined the other Berkshire militia under the command of Col. Symonds – that on the 17th an engagement took place between a detachment of the British troops under the command of Col. Baum and Brechman, and the Americans under general Stark and Col. Warner, that he himself was not in the action, having with some others been left to take care of some baggage – that he thinks about seven Hundred prisoners were taken and that he believes the whole or a greater part of them were Germans having never found one of them able to converse in English. That he attended his uncle the Captain who was one of the guard appointed for that purpose in conducting the prisoners into the County of Berkshire, where they were billeted amongst the inhabitants”.

From there he marches with his uncle to Stillwater.

In May 1781, just before his 17th birthday, he enlisted for nine months in Capt. Stephen Pearl’s Company of General John Fellow’s Massachusetts Regiment as a Orderly Sergeant and marches to Fishkill and White Plains but being militia did not go to Yorktown. On 25 June 1781, wrote to General John Fellows from New Windsor:

Sir: Having Occasion to withdraw from Albany and other posts in the Northern District all the Continental Troops that are now there; I find myself under the necessity to replace them out of the Quota of Militia requested from the State of Massachusetts to the Number of Six Hundred; to be taken from the Counties most contiguous. I have therefore to request that you will be pleased to order the Militia of the County of Berkshire to the Number of Six Hundred; to Rendezvous at Albany; and if that County should not in the proportion

1 assigned to them, amount to the Number I have mentioned; I must beg that you will be pleased to extend your orders (if in your Power) to the County of Hampshire untill you compleat the whole; but in case your command does not reach there, be pleased to communicate this Request to the Officer commandg the Militia in that County and Desire him to fulfill the Number. This Requisition has been communicated to Govr Hancock; but to save Time and to have the Militia in forwardness to move on as soon as possible, I have thot proper to make my Address directly to you, without waitg his Excellencys Orders.

I am etc

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Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: Militia, Col. , Capt. Silas Goodrich Levy Hopkins

Pension application of George Levy Hopkins W11330

Virginia/ Preston County to wit

“On this 11th day of March in the year 1833 personally appeared before me Frederick Harsh a Justice of the peace in and for said County of Preston and state aforesaid Levi Hopkins aged 79 years and resident of said County, who being first duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832. that he entered the service of the under the folowing named officers and served as herein stated. I volunteered in the fall of 1776 under Captain George King and served three months, my Col’s. name I do not now recollect, my General was Gen’l [Benjamin] Lincoln, I was in the battle of the White plains in [28 Oct 1776], I served three months as a private this tower. I was out one month in July 1776, was Commanded by Silas Gootrich Captain I this term was drafted for the purpose of protecting some bagage from the Indians and tories. I have no recollection of seeing any superior officers in this trip though I saw other smaller body of our troops this was my first service and in the fall I volunteered as above stated. In the summer of 1777 I again volunteered under Captain Gootrich and served three months my Col was Starks. I was at the dislodging of the British troops near Bennington under Col Baum; I was frequently called upon to be in readiness to march but was not at any other time in the service long enough to take any account of. I was born 31st March 1753 in Great Barington, Berkshire Massachusetts. I entered the service each tour as a private soldier at the place of my birth and then residence. I had my discharge but long since have lost them. I have [no] evidence that I know of my services. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension except the present and declare that my name is not on the Pension list of any state whatever.

This deposition is quoted here in full length as an example of a deposition. Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: , Col. Nichols, Capt. Solomon Stone Caleb Ingalls

Pension application of Caleb Ingalls R 5476

“And about the latter part of July we march for Bennington Vt. under Gen John Stark and I was there engaged with a party of the enemy under Command of Col. Baum who had been ordered by the British Gen. Burgoyne who then lay at Ft. Eward to destroy Military stores at Bennington on the 16th of August we met the party and after an obstinate resistence took the whole prisoners – we then marched immediately for Stillwater NY.”

Born February 1755 or 1756, he is not sure; in summer of 1777 he joins the service in New Marlborough.

Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: Massachusetts Militia, Col Symonds, Capt. Parker Amasa Ives

Pension Application of Amasa Ives S 23277

“His next Service was in the year 1777 at the Battle of Bennington Vermont. He then resided at Adams aforesaid at which time the Country was suddenly alarmed at the approach of the enemy towards Bennington, and a general turning out was the immediate consequence of the alarm to arrest the progress of the enemy, that this declarant shouldered his musket & repaired the next day to Bennington and the battle was fought the third day after he left home, that he was in the heat of the action which commenced according to his recollection about 11 Oclock AM and continued till night, That Col Baum who commanded the enemy received a reinforcement during the action which was the cause of its being continued so long that the battle was fought he thinks on the 16th of August of that year and the enemy completely defeated”.

Ives was from Wallingford, CT but lived in Adams, MA, at the time.

Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Vermont Militia Job Leonard

In an old newspaper is an affidavit of Capt. of Bennington; wrote in 1807 or 1808. Says he marched his company to the battle ground, by order of Col. . In the battle, a soldier came to Col. Nathan Stone of Shaftsbury, & said, I have no gun; what shall I do? Stone replied – Stand by me a few minutes & you shall have ne. Stone soon after drew up & fired at a , who fell - & Stone said Run and get the gun – which he did. This soldier was Job Leonard, who afterwards settled in Granville, N.Y., one of whose family, Deac. Henry Leonard is still living there.

Asa Fitch, Notes for a history of Washington County, N.Y. 7 vols. vol. 4, # 1540, Call No. Mss Col NYGB 18065. New York Public Library, New York, NY.

Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: , Col. Dan Kent

Pension Application of Dan Kent W 21510

“That myself & two brothers joined the army at Manchester, drew ammunition & kept a kind of outpost in advance of our Army about six miles There we kept guard, we continued at this post till Bennington was Invaded by Col. Baum, the battle of Bennington was fought . 1777. When Warner’s Regt left Manchester for Bennington himself & Brothers were ordered to join them, which they did and met the enemy reinforcement. That he was in said battle till the victory was obtained and eight hundred or a thousand prisoners taken; these he continued with our friends to guard till they were marched to ; this campaign was about two months. When I was ordered to leave my post & join Col. Warners Regt at Manchester, a company of the enemy from Skeenesborough cut down a which stood near my fathers door – and brake in our windows and damaged the house with their tomahawks […] Genl Stark had the chief command in the battle near Bennington Col. Warners Regt had not arrived at the first battle but came up just in time to meet the British reinforcements this battle was fought in the afternoon & continued to near sunset both were bloody battles many were slain on both sides wounded […] nor did he ever receive any pay for his service except four dollars continental money, which they told him was his share of the plunder of the Battle of Bennington.”

He was born in 10 April 1758, dies 21 July 1835. Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: New Hampshire Militia, Capt. Joseph Whitcomb Jonathan Kingsley

Pension Application of Jonathan Kingsley S22858

Born 12 February 1760, he was 17 ½ years old at the Battle of Bennington. On 17 July 1777 he

“enlisted in the New Hamshire Militia for two Months and went into the Service under the command of Capt. Joseph Whitcomb […] we marched through the woods to Manchester thence to Bennington where we were stationed under the command of Brig Gen John Starke and remained there until about the 14th of August when Col Baum with about 500 come within about four miles where he halted and made intrenchments gen Starke found it necessary to attack him in his works which was carried by aßsault and great part of his detachment killed or taken prisoners A few escaped into the woods and Saved themselves by flight. I was detached after the battle as one of the Guards to keep the prisoners we took them to Bennington Meeting house where they were kept a few days and Sent away in the afternoon there was a re-enforcement came on Commanded by Col Brichman he was met by Co Warner with his continental Regiment and or Militia and they were driven back that Col Baum was wounded and died among the Slain.”

Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: Vermont State Troops Capt. , Samuel Herrick John Knight

Pension Application of John Knight S 15916

“His next service was in the fore part of the summer of 1777 he volunteered under the command of Capt. Robinson and went to Manchester in Vermont in the Militia service. Our service at this place was scouting for Tories who were supplying the then at Ticonderoga under General Burgoyne with Cattle. This service was about two or three weeks that he enlisted in the ranging service in Capt. Ebenezer Allens Company of State Troops of the Vermont or () line 1st Lieutenant Isaac Black and 2nd Lieutenant [illeg] Pier in Col. Samuel Herrick’s regiment of Rangers about the first of july 1777 our service was principally scouting in small parties and ranging in woods for Indians and Tories I was in the battle of Bennington through the whole of the action that he was one of the party under Capt. Allen who attacked a British breastwork with two pieces of Cannon that the killed three gunners at one fire that they then retreated and we mounted the breastwork and turned their own piece upon them and killed Col. Baum and Fester heading the Tories that after this battle our service was as before scouting and ranging the woods until about the first of February.”

Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: Headquarters General to Dr. Jonathan Potts

Bennington August 25th 1777

Dr, Sir.

Your favor of the 23d instant, I received last evening …… If General Gates had known the State of the Sick and wounded here, and that they were now in a very good hospital, I am sure he would not have entertained the most distant idea, that either a Saving would be made to the public, or the happiness of the patients promoted, by the removea.

Some Shirts & blankets are wanted for the Sick, pray forward them as soon as may be.

I am dear Sir your most humble Servant

B. Lincoln

N.B. General gates informed Dr. Mc Kenzie that he referred the propriety of removing Sick or not to me. I am full in opinion they ought not at present, to be removed.

Morris H. Saffron, “The Northern Medical Department 1776-1777.” The Bulletin of the Museum vol. XIV No. 2 (Winter 1982), pp. 81- 120, pp. 115-16. Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: 14th Massachusetts Regiment Lieutenant Rufus Lincoln

[August 14. Burgoyne] was Informed that the Americanes had large Store of provision Catle &C at Benington which lies between the forks of the Hosick river and not 20 miles Distant from the N. River he acordingly laid a Scheme to Suprise the place and git the provision and Intrusted the expidition of it to German Lt Colo Baum. the force he took with him was 500 men and 2 peces of artillery, the whole army moved up the E. Shor of the N. River and Encamped nearly opfite to Saratoga, at the Same time throing a Bridge of Rafts acrost the River for the Detchment for to Crows over.

August 15 the American army left Still water and Retreeted to Van Scoiks Island. Genl Burgoyne Detached Colo Breymans Corps Consisting of the Brumswik germands light Infintry an Chassurs, who were posted at battens hill, in order if nefsary to Support Baum.

But Buam was So long on his march that the Militia got fool infermation of his Design, — and assembled So Strong, that he being Informed of their Strength took post near Santocke [Van Scoik's] mills, about 4 miles from benington and dispatched an Express to the Genl of his Situation Colo Brayman was ordered forward to Renforce him but the badness of the Rodes, Rendred much worse by the fall of a Rain, the weakning and living of his horses, Detaned him So that he from 8 in the morning of the 15th day August untill 4 in the after- noon of the next day before he Reached the place about 24 miles, and then was too late.

Genl Stark who Commanded the Militia Benington Determined not to wait for the Junction of the two partyes. on the 16 he marched to atack Baum, where he was intrenched on Walloin [Walloomscoick] Creek, near the Mills on his approch, the provinchels that were with Baum, were overjoyed and informed their Colo that a great number of Loylist were Coming armed to joyn him, but they Soon found their mistake. they ware Severly attacked, their entrenchment forced, their Artellry taken most of the Indians and Some of the proventials made their Escape in the woods. the Colo was wounded, and with the Germans, and many more maid prisoners. Colo Brayman who it Seems had Recevided no inteligance of this action arrived on the Same ground about 4 oClock in the after noon, and was Immeaditaly Attacked on all Sides he maid a good Defence, but was obliged at last to give way and maik his Retreet as well as he Could which he Effected by the help of the night, but not with [out] loss of men and two peces of Artillry The British annual Regester Says their

1 loss in these two actions was 5 or 600 men most part prisoners. — Some other acounts Say much more.

James Minor Lincoln, The Papers of Captain Rufus Lincoln of Wareham, Mass. (Privately printed, 1904), pp. 16/17.

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Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: Green Mountain Boys, Col. Seth Warner Nathan Manly

Pension Application of Nathan Manly

Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: Massachusetts Militia Col. Benjamin Simonds, Capt. David Wheeler Nathan Mason

Pension Application of Nathan Mason S 9000

“This declarant further Saith that immediately after his return to Lanesborough aforesaid and in the Month of August he Volunteered to avoid a draft for three Months and entered the Service under the command of Capt. David Wheeler Lieut King does not remember the name of the Ensign and within two hours he was marched from Lanesborough and marched through the towns of Adams – Williamstown – Pownal into Bennington when he joined Col Simmon Regiment – which was commanded by Lieut Col Powel the Col being Lame and indisposed Gen Starke commanded the Troops he was marched to the attack of Col Baum who lay with his men in his entrenchment about seven miles from Bennington and he encampted within half a mile from Baum behind a hill which rise of Ground was between them and on Sixteenth day of August before the Sun rose he was marched to the top of the hill in Sight of the enemy remained there a Short time and was marched back to camp and eat his breakfast with all the men and after breakfast Col Herrick he thinks came in front of his Regiment and requested three hundred Volunteers who turned out and Marched away Soon after Col Stickney he thinks came also in front of his Regiment and requested three hundred Volunteers who turned out and likewise Marched away during the time Gen Starke Marched past with his Brigade – he this declarant was then marched by Major Stratton and Adjutant Stone to the top of the hill and there were a few Scattering shots exchanged and the enemy fired upon them with their Artillery during this time this declarant has reason to believe that the Americans were making necessary arangements to attack the enemy in the rear for at 3 OClk in the afternoon the main action commenced on the left wing of Baum’s intrenchments and in his rear at which time he was marched in the front of baums Troops and commenced a fire upon the enemy and they were killed and taken prisoners. That Col Baum was wounded and died of his wound and that Col Fister who commanded the Indians and Tories was also wounded and died and he this declarant see Fister expire. That after the battle with Baum he with Some others pursued after those that had fled as he expected and come upon the reinforcements commanded by Col Brickman but did not discover them untill they fired upon them or him with canister Shot which went over his head he then retreated he thinks half a mile when he met his Regiment and joined them and fought on the retreat untill a line of battle was formed at which time Col Warner came up with his continental Regiment and then the action was Sustained after which Col Brickman was compelled to retire the

1 firing continued however untill dark after which the Enemy went away under the cover of the night. That there were about three hundred taken prisoners Brickmann was wounded in his Anckle (?) or leg during the Action – That after the dead were buried and on Monday following he was marched to the Village of Bennington where the Hessions were and he was detached as one of the Guard to take charge of them under the command of Major Stratton and the next day he was marched as a Guard with the Hessions through Lanesborough Pitsfield over the Green Mountain to Old Springfield where the Hessions were placed under the charge of Some troops that were there Stationed.”

Mason was born in Swanzey, Mass. on 15 November 1756.

Benjamin Simonds (13 February 1726-11 April 1807) was a Colonel of the all-Berkshire regiment of about five hundred men known as the “Berkshire Boys” during the American Revolutionary War.

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Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: Massachusetts Militia, Col. Benjamin Simonds, Capt. Daniel Brown Rufus Mason

Pension Application of Rufus Mason S 28803

“that after a very few days stay at home he was called upon to go to Bennington Vermont to oppose a party of the enemy under the Command of Col Baum which had been sent out by Gen Burgoyne to destroy our military stores at that place and immediately entered upon this service under Command of Capt Daniel Brown Col. … Simons and marched direct to that place ad the 16th of August was ingaged against the enemy and took the party prisoners from there went with the prisoners as far as Lanesborough where he was dismissed from any further service under this engagement – being about two weeks.”

Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: Mass Militia, Col. Wells, Capt. Hugh McClollen James McCulloch

Pension Application of James McCulloch W 15069

McCulloch claims to have been “in sight and hearing of the battle … our company was a scouting party”. In view of the debate whether Breymann could have, or should have, heard the artillery fire it is unfortunate that he does not give his precise location.

The following account of the Battle of Bennington is in “Mr. Butler’s Address”. I have been unable to identify this “Thomas Mellen”. A Thomas Mellen of Newbury, Vermont, applied on 29 July 1819 under the 1818 act (S 41004), stating that he enlisted on 1 March 1776 and was discharged in December 1776. A Thomas Millan of Pelham, New Hampshire, (S 13929) served during the retreat to Saratoga and was in the rearguard under Major Hull that was surprised by Indians at Schuyler’s Farms but “left the army about the middle of August of the same year [1777], to return home”.

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Thomas Stickney (1729 – 1809) was Colonel of the 11th New Hampshire Militia Regiment that fought in the Battle of Bennington.

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James Davie Butler and George Frederick Houghton, Addresses on the Battle of Bennington, and the Life and Services of Col. Seth Warner; Delivered before the Legislature of Vermont, in Montpelier, October 20, 1848 (Burlington: Free Press, 1849), pp. 26-29.

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Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: New Hampshire Militia, Col. David Hobart, Capt. Christopher Webber John Meriam Jr.

Pension Application of John Meriam Jr. S18974; supporting statement by Asa Wilcox

[I] say that in the year 1777 I was in the northern army on the two month service at and near Bennington and in the Bennington Battle. And that while there I saw John Merriam … that he was the doing duty as a private in the same Regiment that I was Col Nichols – tho not in the same Company. Saw him in Bennington. Saw him soon after his return; had conversation with him about the battle; had a pair of Hessian gaiters on him which he informed me he brot home with him; and understood from him then, that he passed over the Hessian breast work among the first and showed me several holes in his clothes which he then said were made by musket balls in that action.

Quoted also in Gabriel, Soldiers and Civilians, p. 50. Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: New Hampshire Militia, Col. Stickney, Capt. Samuel McConnell Stephen Morse

Pension Application of Daniel Collins S 29716

The application contains on p. 65 this supporting deposition by Stephen Morse:

[I] well recollect his belonging to Capt Samuel McConnell’s Company Majr head’s Battalion in Colo Stickney’s Regiment in what was called New Hampshire Militia we Enlisted at Pembroke New Hampshire in the Month of July or last of June 1777 for the turn of I think for Three Month & Marched to Bennington in the State of Vermont and was in the Battle at that Place under Genl Stark against the British under Colo Baum & the said Collins & I faught side by side against the Hessian Breastwork & it was said that said Collins killed Seven Hessians & we faught until our Amunition was all Expended & were obliged to retreat on that account. After remaining some time & I having the care of Majr Head’s affects after his Death I was Discharged.

Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: Vermont Militia, Col. Seth Robinson, Capt. Jonas Galusha Caleb Olin

Pension Application of Caleb Olin S 16997

After about six weeks at Fort Ticonderoga and “until the retreat of St. Clair”, Olin “with a part of his company was ordered to take a drove of cattle belonging to the army & drive them through Vermont to Bennington, which service the deponent performed […] as soon as he delivered the Cattle for beef at Bennington he retired to Shaftsbury where he called out all his Company of Militia and marched under the command of Captain Galusha /afterwards of the State of Vermont/ to Bennington where they joined the Militia under General Stacks. They lay four or five days at Bennington before the battle. The deponent was engaged with his company in the battle with the enemy under Col Baum and afterwards with Col. Breyman who came on with a reinforcement. The deponent and his company took over 400 prisoners, besides what they killed. The applicant guarded the prisoners at Bennington until about the 10th September 1777 when his company were relieved by other corps and the company dismissed at Bennington.”

“The party that drove the cattle consisted of about 20 or 30 men under the command of a Captain Robinson and myself.”

Deposition by Gideon Seeger in Olin’s application: Olin served as an Ensign.

Chauncey C. Olin, The John Olin Family History 1678-1893, (Indianapolis: Baker-Randolph, 1893), pp. 131-132, writes that Olin “was at the Battle of Bennington. Here an incident occurred worthy of notice. A British officer presented his sword and sued for mercy, complaining that he had been stabbed with a bayonet. Mr. Olin gave him water from his canteen and helped him to a place of safety until proper arrangements were made for the removal of the prisoners. The British officer complained that he was barbarously treated after he had ceased to defend himself, but became satisfied before his death that from an undisciplined soldiery in defense of their wives and children, he was not to look for European tactics of war.” Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: New Hampshire Militia, Col. Thomas Stickney, Capt. Samuel McConnell Lieutenant John Orr

Pension Application of John Orr

About 4 o’clock, P.M., Nichols began, and the cracking of the muskets was such, that imagination could see men falling by the dozens. We arose and with shouts marched rapidly to the attack. […] when we had passed through the wood and cornfield, we came in sight of the enemy, at about fifteen rods distance. They commenced firing with muskets, at an alarming rate, so that it seemed wonderful that any of the attacking party should escape. At that time an expression of the Prince of Orange came into my mind “every bullet has its billet” and I soon found one commissioned to lay me low. After having lain fifteen or twenty minutes, one of our sergeants came and offered to take me off the ground, I told him he was unable, for I could not help myself. He said he would not leave me here, for the enemy might come and kill me. He therefore called a soldier to his assistance. They took hold of me by my arms, and attempted to carry me off; but the bullets flew directly at us, so that I charged them to lay me down instantly, each take a hand, and stoop so low, that the flax would conceal them, and drag me on my back, into the cornfield, where I should be out of sight of the enemy. This order they obeyed, and took me to the road, where many of the wounded were collected.

Quoted in Gabriel, Soldiers and Civilians, p. 55 Primary Sources Battle of Bennington

Unit: Vermont Militia, Col. Samuel Robinson, Capt. Nathaniel Seely Roswell Osborn

Pension Application of Roswell Osborn R 7819

Osborn’s application also contains some fascinating detail of life around Burgoyne’s army encircled at Saratoga.

“Three or four days after his arrival at Stillwater he was detached with fifty men – under the command of one Lieutenant Coffin – himself Sergeant – and one Corporal Beker – and paraded at the door of the quarters of General Gates – where they received orders from General gates in person to croßs the Hudson at Stillwater Ferry – and take a position on the East side of the river for the purpose of cutting off the supplies of provisions and cattle wich the Tories were driving in to the forces of General Burgoyne – which they immediately proceeded to effect. After croßsing at the Ferry they marched up the river towards Saratoga to a place they were informed that a Tory in the neighborhood had collected a number of cattle which he was about to drive into the British – they ambushed their men and the Lieutenant with himself proceeded to a little little [sic] frame cabin in which it was reported the Tory was secreted, where they found him in the Chamber and captured him by breaking the door – and he bound him in the first instance with his cravat which he took for the purpose from his neck – they then made a signal for their men to advance. Lieutenant Coffin then told the Tory if he did not immediately disclose where his cattle were secreted he would have him shot upon the spot – The Tory sobbed and said they were behind an adjacent piece of wood – to which place Corporal Baker was sent with a file of men and brought seven very beautiful fat oxen. The Tory he then bound with a cord, who, together with the cattle were sent in with an escort of four men to the American Camp. He then marched with the detachment up the river to Batten Kill” and eventually to the American camp.

A few days later he “returned to the East side of the river – reinforced by a by a [sic] Lieutenant (whose name was Beagle), a Sergeant and about twenty-five or thirty Men. Then proceeded up the river to near Quaker Settlement – while marching through the wood they discovered the track of a sleigh – although it was then only in the month of September or October – from which circumstance they concluded game was ahead – and so followed the track for a short distance – when they soon overtook a Dutchman and his wife, with a pleasure sleigh, drawn by a pair of the largest oxen he ever saw, in the best possible condition for beef in their sleigh they had a quantity of Butter and cheese and were cutting their way through the wood to the bridge Burgoyne had thrown acroßs the river for the purpose of facilitating the receipt of supplies for provisions for his army. But they took possession of the whole convoy and sent it in safety to the American Camp.”